Article casting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Casting apparatus which provides an improved gate assembly including a novel mechanical device for positively holding the gate in its operative position.

United States Patent [191 Sieger Oct. 9, 1973 ARTICLE CASTING APPARATUS[75] Inventor: Maurice Paul Sleger, Pittsburgh, Pa. [73] Assignee: WeanUnited, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. [22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1970 21 Appl. No.:66,518

Related U.S. Application Data, [62] Division of Ser. No. 554,603, June1, 1966, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl. 164/341, 164/337 [51] Int. Cl B22d 35/04 [58] Field ofSearch 164/337, 306, 119,

164/341-342, 339; 74/96, 110; 60/52 CD; 49/363; 220/55 H, 55 E, 55 BC,55 T; 254/105, 93 A; 222/504 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,963,308 12/1960 Valentyne et a1 74/110 X 3,090,090 5/1963 Woodburn163/337 X 3,044,764 7/1962 Bonner 60/52 CD X 3,435,884 4/1969 Orris etal. 164/341 2,445,501 7/1948 Vagim 222/504 X 3,651,860 3/1972 Ebeling164/337 X FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 486,947 12/1929 Germany 25/1 RPrimary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Henry C. Westin [57]ABSTRACT Casting apparatus which provides an improved gate assemblyincluding a novel mechanical device for positively holding the gate inits operative position.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED UB1 9 I973 SHU 1 {If 2 HIS ATTORNEYPATENTEUUBT 9x915 SHEEI 2 UP 2 FIG.3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. MAURICE P. SIEGER ARTICLE CASTING APPARATUS This is a divisionof U. S. Ser. No. 554,603 filed on June 1, I966, now U.S. Pat. No.3,640,334 issued Feb. 8, 1972, for Casting Apparatus With Means ForRemoving lngot On Bottom Mold Elements.

In one form the present invention, with referenceto the improved gateassembly, provides a gate housing having an opening to receive arefractory inner sleeve, means for moving the housing toward and awayfrom the mold with which it is associated, said means comprising a meansadapted to exert on the gate assembly a sealable force sufficient toobtain the proper sealing condition between the gate assembly and mold,but characterized in that it is not dependent on auxiliary power meansto maintain the sealed condition.

More particularly, the improved gate assembly includes a housing havinga passageway therethrough, a first means for urging said housing intothe gate operative position, a second means for removing the influenceof said first means and allowing the housing to be brought to the gateinoperative position.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an articlecasting machine in which, while it may be employed in a number ofdifferent types of casting machine, for the purpose of illustrationonly, it is being described with reference to a bottom pressure pouringcasting machine, such as of the type illustrated in U. S. Pat. No.3,015,863 issued in the name of C. F. Strom et al. on Jan. 9, 1962. Itis customary in such casting machines to provide a movable gate that isarranged between the pressure vessel and the mold assembly and throughwhich the molten metal from the vessel passes into the mold assembly. Itis important in such a construction that the gate be positivelymaintained in a sealed relationship with respect to the bottom of themold assembly so as to prevent any escape of the metal from the moldassembly. Heretofore, this sealing condition was obtained by urging thegate towards the mold assembly under the influence of a fluid pressuremeans, such as an hydraulic pressure piston cylinder assembly. Thisarrangement is subject to one serious disadvantage in that on theinadvertent failure of the pressure in the piston cylinder assembly, thesealing condition is lost and the operation must be interrupted.

DRAWINGS These objects, as well as other novel features and advantagesof the present invention, will be better appreciated when the followingdescription is read along with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a pressure casting arrangement illustrating theportion thereof which involves the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. I, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4--4 of FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isillustrated the novel gate assembly and the novel carriage for removingthe cast articles. Although not illustrated, it will be appreciated thatbelow the gate assembly, to be yet defined, there is provided a pressurevessel which deliv' ers molten metal to the gate assembly, in which thegate assembly directs the molten metal to a mold cavity having aconfiguration conforming to the contour of the article to be cast. Inthe present case, the cast article, for the purpose of illustration, isshown to be a slab which is formed by a cavity defined by side, end, topand bottom graphite mold blocks. One of these blocks, that being thebottom block, is shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the slabwhereas FIG. 3 illustrates the two end blocks and the cavity definingthe thickness of the slab.

With reference then to FIG. 1, there is shown a gate assembly 9 spacedbetween the mold assembly and the pressure pouring vessel and throughwhich molten metal passes from the vessel to the mold. The space issufficient to allow the gate to be moved away from the mold tofacilitate the removal of the cast article. As shown in FIG. 3, the gateis comprised essentially of an outer housing or casing 10 that receivesin an opening 11 two refractory liners. The first. liner 12 is arrangedin the lower portion of the casing, whereas the second liner 13, beingconical in shape, is located in the upper portion of the casing. Bothliners are held by a cylindrical retainer 14 which is secured to thecasing. The casing is adapted to move vertically in a U-shaped frame soas to bring the entire gate assembly to a position in forcible contactwith the bottom of the mold from a position remote therefrom. Aspreviously noted, it is important that the gate assembly be forciblymaintained against the bottom of the mold during the pouring procedureand that this means be not subject to inadvertent failure of the sourceof power. Consequently, there is provided, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair ofarms 18 which engages the casing 10 at two opposed points, the arms 18being received in shafts 22, the shafts being rotated by second arms 23,the second arms being connected to spring assemblies 24. The springassemblies are designed to provide a positive force sufficient to urgethe casing upward and establish the proper sealing condition with themold assembly.

In order to move the gate assembly away from the mold, there isconnected to the shafts 22 piston cylinder assemblies 25, which aredesigned to overcome the force of the spring assemblies 24 and cause thelower portion of the arms 18 to engage the casing, thereby to lower thegate assembly.

It should be mentioned with respect to the novel gate assembly that,instead of the spring and cylinder arrangement, other arrangements canbe employed, such as providing a torque motor.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I haveexplained the principle and operation of my invention and haveillustrated and described what I consider to represent the bestembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a gate assembly for an article casting machine wherein the gateassembly is pressed into a sealing condition with a portion of the moldof the machine, the improvement comprising:

a housing having a passageway through which molten metal passes into themold,

a first independent means for holding said housing against said moldunder a predetermining sealing force,

wherein second means comprises a piston cylinder assembly adapted toovercome the energy of the spring and cause the gate to move away fromsaid mold.

2. In a gate assembly according to claim 1 wherein,

said pivotally mounted arm is arranged substantially diametricallyopposite to a second similar arm with respect to said housing, each armbeing secured to a said rotatable shaft and each arm having a saidspring and a said piston cylinder assembly.

1. In a gate assembly for an article casting machine wherein the gateassembly is pressed into a sealing condition with a portion of the moldof the machine, the improvement comprising: a housing having apassageway through which molten metal passes into the mold, a firstindependent means for holding said housing against said mold under apredetermining sealing force, a second independent means for relievingthe influence of said first means and allowing the housing to be movedaway from said mold, a pivotally mounted arm associated with saidhousing for effecting movement thereof towards and away from said mold,a rotatable shaft and means for securing said first and second means tosaid shaft, said first means comprising a spring adapted to impose atorque on said shaft to maintain the gate against said mold, and whereinsecond means comprises a piston cylinder assembly adapted to overcomethe energy of the spring and cause the gate to move away from said mold.2. In a gate assEmbly according to claim 1 wherein, said pivotallymounted arm is arranged substantially diametrically opposite to a secondsimilar arm with respect to said housing, each arm being secured to asaid rotatable shaft and each arm having a said spring and a said pistoncylinder assembly.